That's what I mean when I said his influence is sometimes overstated. Of course, there's the issue of that having been over a decade ago, three years after the worst terrorist attack in American history and smack-dab in the middle of two wars. I think very few people were looking to roll the dice on a weaksauce candidate like John Kerry at the time, so they stuck with who was familiar.

If anything, he might have helped to salvage some of Clinton's support by dissecting all of the false-equivalency that was going on this cycle. Of course, the moment John Oliver dared to question the practicality of Jill Stein's policy proposals, the far left jumped down his fucking throat about it.

But in this election, if one of the major issues was indeed the country's exasperation with the left, I wonder if Stewart would've just been seen as the same tired part of that. ESPECIALLY if Stewart's heart just wasn't in it anymore either.

But in this election, if one of the major issues was indeed the country's exasperation with the left, I wonder if Stewart would've just been seen as the same tired part of that. ESPECIALLY if Stewart's heart just wasn't in it anymore either.

Maybe. However, I have very rarely seen anyone successfully challenge Stewart's integrity and sincerity. Elevating him to irreproachable sainthood is a mistake, but when he speaks, people tend to listen.

I think it comes down to Hillary in the end. She had a murderers row of amazing democrats and really all of the sane world and it wasn't enough. She didn't inspire people and get people excited about her and it's always true that people voting for someone is always going to win against the "against" crowd.

No. It comes down to us because we're the ones who are supposed to hold these people accountable and watch out for one another and we failed.

By us, I clearly mean the denizens of CHUD. America was counting on us and we were too occupied with whether or not Batman looks better in blue or grey or black and grey (the latter is clearly superior) and we let the American people down.

I think it comes down to Hillary in the end. She had a murderers row of amazing democrats and really all of the sane world and it wasn't enough. She didn't inspire people and get people excited about her and it's always true that people voting for someone is always going to win against the "against" crowd.

Trying to point out what a shitty candidate she was doesn't get much traction here.

During their private White House meeting on Thursday, Mr. Obama walked his successor through the duties of running the country, and Mr. Trump seemed surprised by the scope, said people familiar with the meeting. Trump aides were described by those people as unaware that the entire presidential staff working in the West Wing had to be replaced at the end of Mr. Obama’s term.

After meeting with Mr. Trump, the only person to be elected president without having held a government or military position, Mr. Obama realized the Republican needs more guidance. He plans to spend more time with his successor than presidents typically do, people familiar with the matter said.

No. It comes down to us because we're the ones who are supposed to hold these people accountable and watch out for one another and we failed.

By us, I clearly mean the denizens of CHUD. America was counting on us and we were too occupied with whether or not Batman looks better in blue or grey or black and grey (the latter is clearly superior) and we let the American people down.

After meeting with Mr. Trump, the only person to be elected president without having held a government or military position, Mr. Obama realized the Republican needs more guidance. He plans to spend more time with his successor than presidents typically do, people familiar with the matter said.

I don't think this election was a repudiation of "The Left" per se, I think it was a repudiation of "the Elite" in all it's forms; Democrats, GOP Establishment, Wall Street, etc.

Consider that the Tea Party erupted in what? 2010? 2011? A movement with very little coherent ideas other than "Throw the bums out! No more business as usual!" Obamacare was the immediate trigger, but IMO there's been this rising tide of people across the demographic and political spectrum who feel that the political and business Establishments not only don't give a shit about the common people, they actively work against them.

You can go back to the 2000 Election where it was never clear that the people's choice for President was allowed to attain the office (and notice NO ONE has suggested that Clinton contest this election, not even the "Trump Not My President" people). There's been this weird vibe in America where on the one hand people are kind of "circling the wagons", rallying around the flag, and at the same time being suspicious of Government, foreigners, the Rich, the "Media" (for which read Establishment Journalism, not Talk Radio).

After meeting with Mr. Trump, the only person to be elected president without having held a government or military position, Mr. Obama realized the Republican needs more guidance. He plans to spend more time with his successor than presidents typically do, people familiar with the matter said.

I am by no means a fan of Barack Obama, but damn if that doesn't deserve some kind of medal. Talk about jumping on a grenade for people.

I don't think Stewart would have swung the election the other way. Where I think he would have been effective is in his media criticism. I can only imagine the opening segment after the whole Fallon tussling Trumps hair fiasco.

Obama helping Trump for the good of the country...just goes to show he's still the coolest Mother Fucker out there.

It definitely shows that he takes the stewardship of this nation seriously, even if a frighteningly high percentage of us do not. I imagine there are people on either end of the political spectrum who will never understand that about him.

"He's a smart, skilled politician... and HE'S a wild orangutan someone dressed up like people... One's the President, but not the one you'd think! This fall, can one man save the country from a leader who'd rather hang out than make policy? Find out on, POTUS HELP US!"

Pilot episode: Barack has to act fast to save the day when Donny violates political etiquette by flinging his feces at the Mexican President! Also, Eric and Don Jr lose Barron in the rose garden.

Trying to point out what a shitty candidate she was doesn't get much traction here.

Ahhh....Bernie.....what might have been.....

I don't blame Hillary. This is a nation by the people for the people, and said people should be paying attention! Jefferson himself said the price of freedom is enteral vigilance. When a Hillary Presidency was called a third Obama, people should have realized that is a good thing. Under Obama unemployment went down, diplomacy was used to good effect and he got Bin Laden. While there are a ton of reason not to vote for Trump, people should realize by now that trickle down economics has never worked. It wasn't even a new idea when Reagan first cut taxes in the 80s. It was the policy in the 20's which lead to The Great Depression. When Reagan put it into effect he tripled the national debt. It would have been even worse if he didn't raise taxes every year he was in office. Then Clinton came along and balanced the budget by raising taxes on the rich, only to have W piss it all away. This isn't ancient history.

"He's a smart, skilled politician... and HE'S a wild orangutan someone dressed up like people... One's the President, but not the one you'd think! This fall, can one man save the country from a leader who'd rather hang out than make policy? Find out on, POTUS HELP US!"

Pilot episode: Barack has to act fast to save the day when Donny violates political etiquette by flinging his feces at the Mexican President! Also, Eric and Don Jr lose Barron in the rose garden.

This could run for years.

'Tic Tac, Tic Tac, Tic Tac...' - In a special real-time epsiode, after Donald unknowingly makes a pass at the President of Argentina, Barack has just twenty-two minutes to scramble to save the South American Trade Conference!

'Nuke York, Nuke York!' - When a New York Times article criticises Donald's new energy policies, Barack must hide the nuclear suitcase before the angry president launches an attack he won't be able to delete later on!

'All My Sons' - Being President is hard work - one week into his new term, Donald takes a holiday to Scotland with his three sons, and finds he still has a lot to learn about what it means to be a good dad. Meanwhile, back in the White House dressed in a terrible blonde wig and orange tan, Barack has a tricky balancing act to do - govern sanely while hiding his identity!

I feel sooo sorry for Obama. Having to welcome into his position a man who rode on racist diatribe directly against him into a successful candidacy, which involved promises to repudiate everything he has done. And then to realise that everything he warned voters about was utterly accurate, that the man really is badly ignorant of the role and its responsibilities, to the extent Obama has to help train him on how to do the job...and responsibly wreck his legacy.

I don't think I'm a big enough man to do that. The only hope (for us, and I guess political tactic for Obama) is that Trump really does listen to the last person he speaks to, and if Obama might be able to soften the impact of some of Trump's proposed policies if he is the man guiding him on the execution of the role of president. Still, what a nutjuice-santorum cocktail to have to swallow.

Re episodes of Trumped!:

Risky patter: Obama has to jump into action after Trump's passionate meeting with Philippines' hothead leader Rodrigo Duterte ends with the two declaring a live round shooting exercise against each other's military forces. Can Barack cool down this hot confrontation? It's another Manila thriller.

Balls-up: Obama's sleight of hand skills are put to the test when Donald Trump starts a bet with Speaker Paul Ryan over who can drive a golf ball the furthest. The prize? The next Supreme Court nominee!

So, if Trump does NOT build the wall and deport the immigrants...how long before the Alt-Right turns on him something fierce?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JacknifeJohnny

No. It comes down to us because we're the ones who are supposed to hold these people accountable and watch out for one another and we failed.

By us, I clearly mean the denizens of CHUD. America was counting on us and we were too occupied with whether or not Batman looks better in blue or grey or black and grey (the latter is clearly superior) and we let the American people down.

The GOP and majority of his voters sure. Those are probably comfortably in his pocket. But Milo Fuckfaceopolis and the Stormfront and Breitbart guys, I'm not so sure. A lot of white nationalism got stirred up by the Trump campaign and if it's not appeased I can see them viewing him as a traitor/corrupted by the EEEEEEVIL Obama influence.

Trying to point out what a shitty candidate she was doesn't get much traction here.

Ahhh....Bernie.....what might have been.....

I think most of us voted for Bernie in the Primaries. After that, however flawed a candidate she was was moot. You either found reasons to vote for her in the general, or you didn't.

I know the harder-core Bernie supporters like to act like Clinton didn't actually win the Primaries or that they were neck-and neck, but that really wasn't the case. Just like a plurality of Republican primary voters wanted Trump, a majority of Democratic primary voters chose Hillary.

And for all the bellyaching about "rigging" there's precious little actual evidence. Plenty of bias at the DNC, sure (News flash: DNC prefers actual Democrat to Democrat-when-convenient! Film at 11!) but proving that it was acted upon, even with the wikileaks emails is...a stretch, at best.

With Trump, Pennington said she finally found a candidate she believed spoke directly to her.

"He talked and talked like the other candidates would have liked to have said, but they never did. He was just plainspoken," she said.

This makes me want to tear my hair out. The plight of economically bleeding counties like the one profiled make me ache; the holding up of inarticulate and empty speech makes me fucking crazy.

All politicians can talk in circles or elisions. HRC did this a number of times in the debates, though she also did give real life, concrete answers. Trump talks in word salads that barely resemble English, unless he's bullying someone. Then he's perfectly clear.

He's a carnival barker, a used car salesman, and he sounds shady as fuck whenever he talks. I cannot conceive of the mindset of hearing him talk and thinking, "That's our guy. That's who should represent us to the world and make all the tough, complicated decisions."

Now that we'll be getting Secretary Omarosa and President Trump, and all complaints of "no experience" have been thus utterly voided for any candidates in the future, can we start pressuring Martin Sheen to run AS Josiah Bartlet? I mean, that is literally not any more insane than the government we're about to get.

It'll be like the governmental version of Galaxy Quest from the POV of the Thermians!

Jason Nesmith AS Captain Peter Quincy Taggart IN the adventures of the NSEA Protector!

Martin Sheen AS President Josiah Bartlet IN Your United States Government!

Wanda Sykes made some anti-Immortan Don jokes at a show in Boston last night, got roundly booed by the crowd, told them all to fuck off and left the stage. Were these people actually shocked a gay black female comedian might have a take on this? And what the hell were they doing at her show in the first place?

As if I couldn't hate Nigel "shit-eating grin" Farage any more, there he is with his new best friend in a golden fucking elevator.

And the first British politician to get a public, press covered visit to the President-elect. Think on that. He represents a minority of a minority on one issue, and he is getting hyped face time with the new US President. He has single-handedly subverted the political order of the country. If he wasn't such a dangerous shitweasel I'd actually be impressed.

And the first British politician to get a public, press covered visit to the President-elect. Think on that. He represents a minority of a minority on one issue, and he is getting hyped face time with the new US President. He has single-handedly subverted the political order of the country. If he wasn't such a dangerous shitweasel I'd actually be impressed.

At least he didn't end up as Prime Minister. We can be grateful for that at least, I guess.

And the first British politician to get a public, press covered visit to the President-elect. Think on that. He represents a minority of a minority on one issue, and he is getting hyped face time with the new US President. He has single-handedly subverted the political order of the country. If he wasn't such a dangerous shitweasel I'd actually be impressed.

Forget the phone call order. That, is very much a deliberate snub to May and Johnson. Trump has publically seen a minor UK politician (not even an MP) instead of the main players who mocked him. I don't think it'll amount to too much, Farage can't actually do anything, but god knows... perhaps he can work this into an ambassador position or something. :|

Wanda Sykes made some anti-Immortan Don jokes at a show in Boston last night, got roundly booed by the crowd, told them all to fuck off and left the stage. Were these people actually shocked a gay black female comedian might have a take on this? And what the hell were they doing at her show in the first place?

Or maybe the old categories of "Left" and "Right" are no longer operative. Hard to imagine I know. I grew up in the Cold War when the major paradigm was "The Free West vs. Godless Soviet Communism".

Now I live in a world where there is no Soviet Union, 2,000 year old religions are the main source of Global conflict, and Free Markets are under fire by the US Political Party that used to champion them.

I think the reigning paradigm now is "Establishment vs. Anti or Alt Establishment". And the Alts have a clear picture of who the Establishment is: The Ultra Rich, the Eastern Establishment, The Media, Celebrities, and Progressives". The later I think are perceived as shills or covers for Ivy League Elites, a way for them to assuage their guilt at screwing over everyone not them.

Or maybe the old categories of "Left" and "Right" are no longer operative. Hard to imagine I know. I grew up in the Cold War when the major paradigm was "The Free West vs. Godless Soviet Communism".

Now I live in a world where there is no Soviet Union, 2,000 year old religions are the main source of Global conflict, and Free Markets are under fire by the US Political Party that used to champion them.

I think the reigning paradigm now is "Establishment vs. Anti or Alt Establishment". And the Alts have a clear picture of who the Establishment is: The Ultra Rich, the Eastern Establishment, The Media, Celebrities, and Progressives". The later I think are perceived as shills or covers for Ivy League Elites, a way for them to assuage their guilt at screwing over everyone not them.

And the deep dark truth that the "alt" establishment will learn (may already know and don't give a shit) is that there are no solutions to the ills perceived and suffered by the ones who elevated them to power other than the product of open, honest and rational debate they won't be able to stomach for fear of losing that power. The risk to everyone else is that unless they tear themselves apart through sheer incompetence and hubris, they will lash out at anything and anyone they perceive to be a risk to their continued authority. At least the "establishment" has a broad program of enveloping dissent to bring it into line, with the indirect benefit of altering its internal constituency at the same time (albeit slowly).

Trump is holding together the shakiest coalition that you could conceivable govern on. It is a conservative, populist alliance that agrees with itself on very little. Now, he's a great deal maker and a lot of momentum and it will do a lot of damage to us. We are in grave peril and it's going to be terrible.

But, Paul Ryan wants to privatize Social Security. Trump says he wants to keep it, save the program. How does that get worked out? Trump wants to tear up TPP. Paul Ryan is 1,000 percent for TPP. How do the conservatives and the populists govern together? Now they will agree on a whole bunch of terrible stuff, trust me, they're going to put pipelines everywhere if they can. They're going to town militarizing stuff. Civil liberties, immigration, there's a whole bunch of terrible stuff to come. But this idea that 60 million people all want to join the Klan, and now they have absolute control of all three branches of government and America's over is just ridiculous.

Quote:

CJ: Where do you feel the media screwed up the most?

VJ: The catnip of the ratings, it's just hard to shake off. He's a hell of a performer, he's a hell of an entertainer. If you put him on and let him say his crazy stuff, you're going to get a lot of viewers. If you take him off, and have some sober discussion about what's going on in Syria, you're going to lose 80 percent of your audience. When you get a billion dollars of free advertising it’s hard not to have anybody buy the product.

You have a new media system and he emerged as a new master of it. FDR was underrated, but he understood radio and he dominated. JFK was underrated but he understood television, and he dominated. Obama was underrated but he understood the internet, and its capability to bring out small dollar donors and to push viral videos. Trump was underrated, but he understood social media and he understood reality television. We thought he was leaving that world of entertainment and climbing over the wall into politics. In fact, what he did was he pulled the world of politics into the world of reality television. Basically we all just had to live in the Trump reality television show, and now we're kind of stuck there for at least four years. Maybe eight.

He understood the dynamics of the new media system better than the people who ran the old media system. You don't get fewer followers saying outrageous stuff on Twitter. You don't get lower ratings playing the villain on reality TV. Playing the villain gets you higher ratings on reality TV and saying outrageous stuff on Twitter gets you more followers. All the old rules, if you say some crazy stuff you get your show canceled, or you get your campaign ended, but they don't apply in the world of social media. They don't apply in the world of reality TV. He just played everybody.

This isn't really any sort of revelation but Trump is, in very simplistic terms, an internet Troll.

I think the reigning paradigm now is "Establishment vs. Anti or Alt Establishment". And the Alts have a clear picture of who the Establishment is: The Ultra Rich, the Eastern Establishment, The Media, Celebrities, and Progressives". The later I think are perceived as shills or covers for Ivy League Elites, a way for them to assuage their guilt at screwing over everyone not them.

Your arrangement here manages to leave out Bernie and the rest of the left that are rushing into that vacuum. Kumbaya and all that bullshit. Its the same racket.